Walking Walking through Open through Open

DoorsDoors

Why don’t we grow?Why don’t we grow?

1.1.Willful or unwillful ignoranceWillful or unwillful ignorance2.2.Moral choicesMoral choices3.3.Intellectual choicesIntellectual choices

““To doubt everything or to To doubt everything or to believe everything are two believe everything are two equally convenient solutions; equally convenient solutions; both dispense with the necessity both dispense with the necessity of reflection.” of reflection.”

Henri PoincareHenri Poincare

““There are two ways to slide There are two ways to slide easily through life: to believe easily through life: to believe everything or to doubt everything or to doubt everything. Both ways save everything. Both ways save us from thinking.”us from thinking.”

Alfred KorzybskiAlfred Korzybski

 Walking Through Open DoorsWalking Through Open Doors

22Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. thankful. 33And pray for us, too, that God may open And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. chains. 44Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. should. 55Be wise in the way you act toward Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 66Let Let your conversation be always full of grace, your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.answer everyone.

Colossians 4:2-6Colossians 4:2-6

22Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 33And pray for us, too, And pray for us, too,

that God may open a door for our message, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ,

for which I am in chains. for which I am in chains. 44Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 

55Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. make the most of every opportunity. 

66Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Colossians 4:2-6Colossians 4:2-6

NEW CREATURE

-10- 9- 8- 7

- 6- 5- 4

+ 3

+ 1

- 3- 2- 1

+ 2

+ 4+ 5+ 6

Initial Awareness of GospelInitial Awareness of Gospel

Rejection of GodRejection of God

Awareness of Awareness of Supreme BeingSupreme Being

Grasp of Implications of GospelGrasp of Implications of Gospel

Positive Attitude Toward GospelPositive Attitude Toward Gospel

Personal Problem RecognitionPersonal Problem Recognition

DECISION TO ACTDECISION TO ACT

Repentance and Faith in ChristRepentance and Faith in Christ

Post-Decision EvaluationPost-Decision Evaluation

Incorporation into BodyIncorporation into Body

Conceptual and Behavioral GrowthConceptual and Behavioral Growth

ReproductionReproduction

ETERNITYETERNITY

ULTIMATE questions…ULTIMATE questions…ULTIMATE questions…ULTIMATE questions…

ORIGIN:ORIGIN: Where did everything come Where did everything come from?from?

MEANING: Why are we here?Why are we here?

MORALITY:MORALITY: How should we live?How should we live?

DESTINY:DESTINY: What happens when we die?What happens when we die?

ORIGIN:ORIGIN: Where did everything come Where did everything come from?from?

MEANING: Why are we here?Why are we here?

MORALITY:MORALITY: How should we live?How should we live?

DESTINY:DESTINY: What happens when we die?What happens when we die?

Worldview Origin Meaning Morality Destiny

Following Christ

Created by God

Glorify/love God; love others

Determined by character/will of God

Determined by relationship with Christ

Worldview Origin Meaning Morality Destiny

Naturalism Natural means ? Self-

determinedAnnihilation

Transcenden- talism

Derived from the “One”

Recognize “oneness”

Determined by unity/harmony

Rebirth; back to the “One”

Theism Created by God

Determined by God

Determined by God

Eternity with or apart from God

Following Christ

Created by God

Glorify/love God; love others

Determined by character/will of God

Determined by relationship with Christ

Hard QuestionsHard Questions

If God is so good, why is there so much If God is so good, why is there so much evil in the world?evil in the world?

If following Christ is the only true way, If following Christ is the only true way, what about those who have never heard? what about those who have never heard? What about sincere Muslims, Buddhists, What about sincere Muslims, Buddhists, etc.?etc.?

Why is the Bible the only “word of God?”Why is the Bible the only “word of God?”

PrayPray

WalkWalk

TalkTalk

Pray that God will open doors for Pray that God will open doors for opportunities to communicateopportunities to communicateHis incredible message of grace. His incredible message of grace.

Go overboard in letting your life Go overboard in letting your life commend the truth of God to commend the truth of God to those outside of Christ.those outside of Christ.

Know what you are talking about. Know what you are talking about. Be gracious, clear, interesting Be gracious, clear, interesting and personal.and personal.

Walking Through Open DoorsWalking Through Open Doors

Walking Walking through Open through Open

DoorsDoors